A Whitland man soaked his wife with a garden hose after assaulting her after a family barbecue.

Emyr James Davies, of Whitland, pleaded guilty to assault by beating, when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Wednesday, August 8.

Abul Hussain, prosecuting, told the court that Davies’ wife of 26 years was attending a barbecue at her parents’ home next door when he started shouting over a gate for her to come home at 11.20pm on June 30.

Michelle Davies told her husband he was embarrassing when she returned to their house, and he pushed her with both hands causing her to fall over.

Mr Hussain said: “She got up and he pushed her again. She fell onto a garden table and chairs.”

Davies then picked up a hose and sprayed his wife with water. Family members came running to her assistance after hearing her cries for help.

Mrs Davies suffered scratches, bruising and soreness as a result of the incident.

Katy Hanson, defending, said the incident was ‘deeply regrettable’, and Davies, 51, previously of clean character, was very apologetic.

“Mr Davies called her back and an argument then took place. He says she was angry when she came back, but he should not have pushed her.”

Miss Hanson added that Davies received ‘scram marks’ to his face during the incident, and had continued to provide for the household while subject to conditions not to attend the property before the hearing.

The bench heard that the couple, who have three grown up children, now needed to discuss whether they remained together in the future.

Miss Hanson said: “He is very apologetic and assures me that nothing of this nature will ever happen again.”

Davies was fined £100 and magistrates ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.